BARCELONA’S hopes of penning Lionel Messi on a new contract have hit a brick wall.
The Argentine superstar’s future with the Catalan giants is seriously in doubt for the first time in his career.
Reports suggested that Messi had rejected a new deal at the Nou Camp last summer but Barcelona have insisted that they will do everything in their power to ensure the 29-year-old remains at the club.
Messi’s current contract expires in the summer of 2018, meaning he will be free to talks to European clubs over a pre-contract by January 2018.
According to Marca, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu wants to make Messi the highest-paid footballer in the world but the only contact club and player have made over the issue is by phone conversations.
But Barcelona insist they will have a deal agreed with Messi by March next year.
Messi knows the ball remains in his court and has reportedly demanded a staggering £825,000-a-week to stay with the club.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner will not be short of options if he does decide to leave with a reunion with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on the cards.
